Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph (22) in action against the Buffalo Bills in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph (22) in action against the Buffalo Bills in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Photo: Ed Reinke, STF

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Johnathan Joseph considers himself an astute follower of the NFL, a student of the game.

So it might come as a surprise to some that when the former Cincinnati Bengal mentions Kareem Jackson, as he did Friday during an introductory news conference at Reliant Stadium for himself and former Chicago safety Danieal (pronounced dan-YELL) Manning, there aren't profanities involved. Believe it or not, the newest Texan was complimentary of the beleaguered second-year cornerback.

And it was more of the same regarding Glover Quin, who is now a safety, and reserve Jason Allen, a former first-round selection. In defense of his new teammates, the same teammates primarily responsible for the Texans' league-worst ranking against the pass in 2010, Joseph insisted there was enough talent in the secondary.

Ability wasn't the question, he said. And yes, he was serious.

"I'm not one of those guys that just plays football," Joseph said.

Given their issues in the defensive back end last year, the Texans likely would have settled for assistance of any kind. But in signing Joseph, 27, and Manning, 28, the organization landed a couple of free agents with five years of experience each.

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And that - even more than the versatility Manning (5-11, 202) represents and the athleticism Joseph (5-11, 190) exhibits - might be their greatest immediate value. Joseph literally said as much when asked about Jackson's rookie-season woes.

"You learn from experience," he said.

Joseph meant Jackson's lackluster first year, but he might as well have been referring to himself and Manning. Both called the decision to join the Texans a "no-brainer," although Manning, who played at Abilene Christian University and is a Corsicana native, had a little more motivation.

"I didn't get an offer (from the Bears) that I thought was of value that was good for me or my family," he said. "I knew from the jump when I hit free agency I wanted to come home, being from here. My dream has come true."

Which is convenient because at times last season, the Texans' pass defense resembled a nightmare. Shoring up the secondary was priority No. 1, and general manager Rick Smith committed more than $30 million in guaranteed cash to secure Joseph and Manning, who have a combined 114 starts.

By comparison, Jackson, Quin and Allen have played a total of 125 games.

They're used to success - Manning has played in the Super Bowl and Joseph has been to the playoffs. Both are excited about how they'll fit in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme. And they're good, although neither is fully appreciated. Joseph might not have been the best cornerback in Cincinnati, and Manning was overshadowed by teammates with inflated reputations.

But none of that mattered Friday. Manning couldn't stop explaining how excited he was to be a Texan; Joseph, considered by some a consolation prize for teams unable to sign Nnamdi Asomugha, grinned.

"The name might not be known by a lot of people around the league, but I guess by the people making the decisions in the front office - they got the guys they wanted to get and I'm looking to making good on their investment," he said.